I know what you’re thinking – we sound crazy already, but bear with us, there is a whole lot of method in the seeming madness! The norm for many brides and grooms is a spring or summer wedding in the UK. Couples consistently plan their dream day for this peak time, making demand for all things wedding-related far higher than the rest of the year. While it may give you a better shot at sunshine for your big day, there are no guarantees that your planning will pay off.
With that in mind, here at Wedding Ideas we are going to challenge convention with five reasons not to choose a summer wedding – will you be persuaded to get married in autumn or winter instead?
You can save money
Otherwise known as peak wedding season, spring and summer weddings see a huge hike in prices for everything from your venue to your photographer and catering. The increase in demand for their services during the summer months means many in the wedding industry charge a premium for bookings during peak wedding season, even though they’re providing the same service or product that they would do for a lot less during the colder months.
Choose not to get married in the summer, and you’ll find prices are a little more affordable. If you’ve been longing for a photographer whose images you fell for, but are usually out of your price bracket, an out of season wedding might make them a possibility again. It can make your budget go further, so you can spend in the areas that are the most important for your special day.
You might not get sun anyway
You don’t need us at Wedding Ideas to point out that in the UK the summer months do not guarantee sunshine, but we’re going to do it anyway. This means you run the chance of paying peak prices for a wedding during the most popular season, but you might not get the summertime benefits. And if you’re heading abroad to tie the knot, remember that the summer months can often become scorching hot (and uncomfortable if wearing a wedding gown!) – so again, sometimes an autumn or winter wedding can be the better option.
You might have more choice of suppliers
Because fewer brides and grooms are booking their weddings during the off-peak wedding season, suppliers are also less busy. If you’ve got your heart set on a top quality suppliers – whether that’s for your flowers or your photographs – they’ll likely be booked up a long way (often a year or more!) in advance for summer weddings. You’ve got more of a chance of finding availability with your dream suppliers for an autumn or winter wedding.
Your dream venue is less likely to be fully booked
Likewise, the most sought after venues will also be booked a long way in advance. This is especially true if you’re desperate to get married on a Saturday – the most popular choice for couples tying the knot – as a summer wedding on this day will be in extremely high demand.
If location and setting are essential to create your fairytale day, either book plenty in advance, be prepared to take a last minute cancellation, or opt for an out of season wedding when there will be far more availability.
Lots of honeymoon destinations are better visited in autumn or winter
British summertime might be the traditional time for us to jet off on holiday abroad, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the best. Many countries become far hotter than is comfortable in July and August and are better visited earlier on or later in September or October. For many of the Caribbean islands, a dream honeymoon for many couples, visiting in winter is recommended to get the best of the weather.
